Plough Based Systems

There is little point in debating the pros and cons of ploughing, as every farmer will decide for himself on the merits of a plough based tillage system. All that we endeavour to do is to suggest ways that the seedbed can be finished off to suit best drilling. In most cases "less is best" to suit the Moore drill, and in this way time can be saved and costs reduced without affecting yields.

Do It The Moore Way

The Moore Unidrill has worked in plough based seedbeds for the past 25 years. Experience gained from that has proven that a firm seedbed behind the plough is the most important factor. Drilling into this can be done at speed (11-15 km/hr) with an even consistent depth of seed placement. What we are trying to achieve is an inverted seedbed (ploughed) which has been levelled and firmed back to a non-inverted state, allowing the weather to work the seedbed by ploughing it as early as possible and using a heavy levelling press to create a firm level surface.

A fine fluffy seedbed, apart from being more expensive to achieve and generally unhealthy for soil structure is the most difficult condition for the Moore Unidrill to perform into. Productivity is lost as the drill will be heavier to pull and depth control is more variable.

A shallow levelling cultivation in conjunction with a firm press is generally all that is required in lighter soils. This is generally a more weatherproof condition and a slight hazing off, after a wet spell, will allow the Moore to drill. The drill does no pre- cultivation and so no wet soil is brought up to the surface to complicate drilling. The Moore's ability to drill effectively at speed dramatically improves its ability to handle wet sticky conditions.

Slug pressure will be reduced - the firm seedbed coupled with the Moore's heavy press wheel onto the seed slot makes it very difficult for slugs to get to the seed.

Heavier soils need to be broken up a bit more and levelled but this will depend on the quality of ploughing and weather conditions at the time of ploughing. The sooner subsequent tillage can be completed after ploughing the better. We have found pressing as a separate operation to be more effective than a furrow press linked to the plough. The pressing is firmer and the resultant surface is more even, and an extra furrow can be pulled on the plough, with no messing around moving the press between fields.

Ploughing Will Always Have A Place

While a case can be made for not ploughing in many instances, there are certainly times such as before or after sugar beet and potatoes, when ploughing will always have a place. Reducing the amount of cultivation between the plough and the drilling will have benefits for the soil and save time and reduce costs. If the plough can be worked into the system as a "rotational ploughing" every third or fourth year then the whole cycle will be on a positive trend.

While the power harrow certainly covers a "multitude of sins", particularly in difficult weather conditions, it can do the most damage to the soils structure, reduce the precious time available (as the operation is so slow) and help push the balance sheet into the red. The familiar pools of water seen on many fields in winter are generally the result of over cultivation, where the very fine soil particles drop to the bottom of the seedbed forming an impervious barrier preventing the water from draining away. This has the effect for making the seedbed less weather proof, as an over cultivated seedbed takes longer to dry out after the rain, and indeed loses moisture more rapidly during a dry period.

As an improved tillage system starts to function better, time is saved and the soils become easier to work, power harrowing will hopefully be excluded from the system entirely.